Multiple Vehicle Collisions or pile ups are road traffic accidents that involve more than two vehicles. In some cases, the number of vehicles involved reaches up to the hundreds. This is most common in high capacity speed routes such as freeways. These accidents are often deadly and the amount of damage could reach massive amounts; not to mention the heavy traffic right after.

In Los Angeles, multiple vehicle collisions are not uncommon due to having some of the busiest roads and highways in the country. In 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had to declare a state of emergency to contain a multiple vehicle collision in a tunnel on interstate 5 at the Antelope Valley Freeway.

The pile up involved at least 29 vehicles that included 6 big rig trucks. The crash caused intensive fire that lasted for hours and had killed at least three people that included an infant.andnbsp; The crash had economic effects as well as that specific road is a major connection between northern and southern California. That incident shows the extent of the damage a major multiple vehicle collisions can cause and because of the high number of vehicles involved, investigating is made much more difficult.

Causes of Multiple Vehicle Collisions
It was reported that the cause of the said pile up was the rain that made the road slippery. In high speed roads like freeways, it is easy for a driver to lose control due to rain or snow.
A major disaster is inevitable with big rig trucks involved. According to statistics, large trucks are more likely to cause multiple vehicle collisions than passenger cars.
Just by the sheer size of trucks, the damage it can do in an accident is much more devastating than a normal vehicle.
Another usual cause of pile ups are low visibility conditions on the road due to rain or fog. With vehicles running in high speed under such situations, the chances of one vehicle bumping another is higher. Unmaintained roads can also play a factor in causing multiple vehicle collisions. Potholes on a high speed road can change the direction of a moving vehicle. But of course, a driverandrsquo;s recklessness will always be a major cause for any vehicular accident. About 27 percent of truck drivers involved in fatal accidents had at least one speeding conviction.

Some of the major offenses a driver commits when driving are:

- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Disobeying safety procedures
- Ignoring reduced speed limits

Because of high speeds in some roads with vehicles moving close to each other, if one vehicle suddenly encounters problems, the car behind it may not be able to stop in time and hit it. A chain reaction may follow as vehicles are pushed into other lanes.

Effects

With the number of vehicles involved, a multiple vehicle collision can be very deadly. Crumpled vehicles are very common and that makes escape very difficult. A fire can also spread from one car to another due to spilled fuel. A pile up also takes q toll on firefighters, the police and paramedics. With quick rescue as the goal, the number of victims makes it difficult to accomplish.
Multiple vehicle collisions also damages roads and properties. Infrastructures that are destroyed have to be repaired and the amount to accomplish it could be staggering.

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Article Submitted By: Mesriani
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